Rockford Park District approves Midway Village expansion design concept

From press release

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners has approved the design concept for the building expansion to Midway Village Museum. With this action, Midway Village Museum may proceed with the bidding and construction of the expansion to the existing main museum center. As per the agreement with the Rockford Park District, the Park Board must approve the design of any new capital project that will eventually be owned by the Park District. The Museum will proceed with bidding the expansion project later this month, with the structure scheduled to be completed before June 2010.

Background

Gladys and Roland Olson had a dream of celebrating the Swedish influence in the Rockford community through a sizeable donation. Upon their death, the Olson Trust was established, and $1 million was donated to the Rockford Park District Foundation toward accomplishing that dream. The Museum leadership has expanded that concept to explore the history of immigration and all nationalities coming to Rockford and their impact on the community.

The title of the Museum’s newly-proposed exhibit/expansion area is “Many Faces, One Community.”

Phase I Project

Midway Village Museum is proceeding into the first phase of construction for its Many Faces, One Community capital project. The first phase is the building of the addition to house the new exhibit.

“The museum is being fiscally prudent at this point in time, taking into consideration the funds available to build the addition and the current economic climate in the community. The Capital Campaign fund-raising will be reinstated when the economy begins to improve. We have already raised money for this project; however, an additional $900,000 is needed to make the exhibit a reality. The museum’s vision for the Many Faces, One Community exhibit is to explore all of the diverse immigrant experiences with the goal to open it in 2011,” said Midway Village Museum Executive Director David Byrnes.

For more information, contact Lonna Converso at (815) 397-9112, ext. 110 or lonna.converso@midwayvillage.com.